Game Thread GAME# 67: BLAZERS @ SPURS - MARCH 15, 2017 - WEDNSDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), ESPN & KGW

Um no? This is a FIVE game road trip that started in Phoenix. We are 2-1.

 

I've been tanking for a long time...since I'm not a mod, I'm more of a private Jerk....

 

Oh would you look at that i'm wrong.
First time ever on these forums have I been wrong when you quoted me trying to tell me something about basketball.
Doesn't change the main fact about the first post of mine you quoted... You know would have been nice if portland showed up for the pelicans game.
But hey if you want me to say your right. then you have it.

 

You're a moderator?!?!

Shit...... have you ever.... moderated?

 

Crabbe and CJ were just off. Jet lag, couldn't sleep, whatever, an off night. That's why the playoffs are 7 are series. You can have an off game and still win the series and advance. One off night doesn't end your postseason (like college).

 

Well , I wake up for that Pelicans crap and I don't wake up for Spurs and they win . Crazy team.

 

I'm really bummed I didn't get to watch this... fuck work

 

The people being called trolls

 

@Strenuus is @SlyPokerDog in Swedish.

 

You're not a huge jerk though.

#goals

 

Why do you care?

 

What we have learned from this post; Sleep and watch the replay when you wake up and the Blazers will win.

Shall we test the theory?

 

Cause i get called a troll

 

It worked for me....

 

Sorry you won't be able to watch them in the playoffs.

 

Can I get my tax money back that went to whatever education system taught math? (before I get a lengthy PM, this is just kidding and not being disrespectful)

 

I think the playing rotation with Nurk needs to change a bit. He can't seem to sustain playing at our pace for more than 4 minute stretches without getting completely gassed. Like 4 in, 2 out, 4 in, 2 out, etc throughout the game. Forget about lineups and who he's with at the time -- just keep him on the floor for 32 mpg.

Stotts needs to go back to his time with Carlisle and see how the rotations were handled then. Dirk/Tyson/Kidd/Terry/etc all were on a similar regimen. Centers these days just don't seem to play all that many minutes. Currently, he's averaging 29.8 mpg with us, and that would put him at #11 among all centers for mpg. Gasol leads the league at an ungodly 34.4 mpg.

 

I watched the game last night, but was without an internet connection. I read through this game thread this morning and while largely predictable, one thing I've been noticing lately is there seems to be a lot of pro-Lillard C.J. bashing going on and a lot of pro-C.J. Lillard bashing also occurring.

Has the whole Dame and C.J. can't coexist narrative become so deeply ingrained into our collective subconscious that many of us are choosing sides? It sure seems that way, which is ironic as with both players playing like we did last night, no one actually brings up that narrative - at least temporarily.

It seems like whenever we lose a game, all we here is about how we can never win with our current backcourt. And, then we have a game last night, where both players play well and we beat one of the best teams in the league on the road and the Dame and C.J. can't co-exist crowd goes silent. At least until we lose again.

Personally, I'm in the Can Co-Exist (with the right players around them) Camp. Nurkic was a great pickup, but I think we also need to upgrade both starting forward positions. Nurkic's scoring helps alleviate the need for one of the forwards to be a reliable 3rd option on offense, as I think Nurkic can become that, if he's not already. So, what I think we need are two very good defenders at the forward spots that aren't offensive zeros. In addition to defense, at least one of them needs to be an above average 3-point shooter and one, likely the PF needs to be an above average rebounder.

So, rather than looking to split up our backcourt (which looked damn good last night against one of the top defenses in the league), I'd look at upgrading the starting forward positions.

I'd also look to hire a lead assistant, or better still an associate head coach that specializes in defense. He's already a head coach elsewhere, but someone like Mike Budenholzer. He came up through the Spurs ranks and if you look at the advanced defensive metrics, ATL has one of the top 5 or 6 defenses in the league, and he turned Paul Millap, at the age of 31, into a legitimate contender for DPOY last season. So, is there anyone else in the Spurs organization we could poach to help improve our defense. I mean shit, if they can turn little Patty Mills into a damn decent defender (although you wouldn't have know it last night), there has to be hope for Dame and C.J. I don't think it's just about physical ability/size with Dame and C.J. I think they need to be taught to play defense the right way and be held accountable when they don't. Who can we tap for that role?

BNM